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The Morning After: One typo created a random skyscraper in 'Flight Simulator'

'Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020' players spotted something strange in Melbourne.

The Melbourne Monolith in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (Ei Ito. /engadget)

Ridesharing’s legal drama in California will continue, at least for now. Uber and Lyft faced a midnight shutdown on Thursday until a court granted them a stay. They’re appealing a court ruling over whether they need to treat their drivers as employees or contractors.

Both companies claimed they would need to shut down operations in the state entirely if they are forced to comply with the law, but now they will continue to do business while they fight it out in the courts — or at least until it goes before voters during the November election.

— Richard

A typo created a 212-story monolith in ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator’

Meet the monolith of Melbourne.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
Ei Ito / Engadget

Making a small error while editing the OpenStreetMap database isn’t normally a significant issue. But if you’re nathanwright120, and you tagged a two-story building in Melbourne as being 212 stories, and you did that at the same time Microsoft decided to scrape the data for its new flight sim… then you get this, and it’s glorious.
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An AI pilot just beat a human in a simulated dogfight

Game over, man, game over.

AlphaDogfight TV
DARPA

DARPA’s AlphaDogfight Trials have ended, and Heron Systems saw its synthetic pilot come out on top, besting AI from Lockheed in the final round. After the AI vs. AI competition, its simulated F-16 went up against a human pilot and shot him down five times in five rounds. Are we doomed? We’re doomed.
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Razer made a dull keyboard and mouse for working from home

You could still play 'Microsoft Flight Simulator' with them, though.

Keyboard
Razer

If you thought Razer couldn’t make PC hardware without a moody black base and technicolor lights, you were ri.. wrong. Its new series of mouse and keyboard peripherals have the color  palette of a mid-00s office, all grays and whites. So they will blend in but still pack ergonomic shapes, mechanical switches and the rest of the tech you’d expect from Razer.

The $140 keyboard has wireless and Bluetooth connectivity for up to four devices, along with programmable keys that offer macro recording. As for the Pro Click mouse, it will cost $100 with  eight programmable buttons.

Both are available from Razer’s website today, and you can buy them through authorized resellers starting August 27th.
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I went through hell to make an HDR YouTube video so you don’t have to

Until Microsoft and Google get it together, HDR will remain a niche on YouTube.

Video edit
Engadget

Read along as Associate Editor Steve Dent battles with HDR settings, YouTube compatibility and every other video editing gremlin. In the process, he’ll give you everything you’d need to make your own high-contrast HDR content. It is not for the faint of heart.
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Panasonic made a $835 cubicle for your WFH future

I like it?

Panasonic
Panasonic

Panasonic, known best for its TVs and white appliances, is launching a work-from-home cubicle during this work-from-home boom. For 88,000 yen ($835 dollars), you can sit behind two wooden peg boards, and well, not all that much tech. I’m not really sure what you’re paying a premium for here, but I like the aesthetic. I apologize for nothing. For now, sadly, it appears to be a Japan-only arrangement.
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But wait, there’s more...

Google Maps is tracking the spread of America's wildfires hour by hour

Polestar 2 first drive: A sporty EV with Android Automotive inside

A drive-through 'Stranger Things' experience in LA is coming in October

Android 11 will offer wireless Android Auto features on most phones

Sony's cameras can now be used as webcams, too

Facebook's 'classic' look dies in September

PS5 developers explain how the DualSense controller changes gameplay

'Black Myth: Wu Kong' looks like a gorgeous Monkey King-inspired game

Adobe Lightroom iOS update permanently deleted users’ photos